WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy praised President Donald Trump’s announcement of plans to establish a next-generation military training range in Montana, describing the project as an investment in modernizing the nation’s defense capabilities.
The proposed facility would support integrated military exercises and testing involving emerging technologies, including electronic warfare, hypersonic weapons, space systems and advanced targeting capabilities.
Sheehy, a Republican, said the project would help the military adapt its training and testing infrastructure to increasingly complex battlefield conditions.
“The 21st-century battlefield is being redefined by new weapons and evolving technical frontiers that require a novel approach to how America will resource its warfighting capabilities,” Sheehy said.
The senator argued that advances in military technology require new facilities capable of testing weapons and systems under conditions that more closely resemble modern combat environments.
“The U.S. faces a clear choice: adapt and expand our development infrastructure to the realities of modern warfare, or risk falling behind adversaries who iterate faster,” he said.
Sheehy has advocated for establishing an advanced military training range in Montana and secured a $10 million feasibility study provision in the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this year.
The proposed training range would draw on Montana’s large geographic areas, existing military infrastructure and research institutions, according to Sheehy’s office.
The senator said Montana’s military heritage, veteran population and developing technology workforce make the state a suitable location for expanded defense testing and training.
“Montana is uniquely positioned to spearhead the development of the next generation of instruments for the warfighter,” Sheehy said.
The announcement did not specify the proposed facility’s exact location, total construction cost or anticipated completion date. Additional planning and development details have not been released.
Sheehy credited Trump with prioritizing military modernization and selecting Montana for the proposed investment.
“I’m grateful for President Trump’s leadership in restoring American military dominance, and I am proud he chose Montana to make this historic investment in modernizing our armed forces,” he said.